Conveyer.



O. D. SEEBERGER.

Patented Feb. 21, 1911.

' 4' snms sxnm 1.

n1: NORRIS PETERS c0, wAsHmn-rou, n c.

G. D. SEEBERGER.

GONVEYER. APPLIUATION IVILED MAR. 23, 1903. RENEWED JUNE 5, 1909.

Patented Feb. 21, 1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE mmms PETERS 120., wnsnmarou, n, c.

G. D. SEEBERGER.

GONVEYER. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 28, 1903 RENEWED JUNE 5; 1909.

984,858. Patented Feb. 21, 1911 4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

'ri-l: NORRIS PETERS 00-, WASHINGTON, n. c.

0.1). SEEBERGER.

Patented Feb. 21,1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

UNKTED STATES PA'IENT OFFICE.

CHARLES D. SEEBERGER, OF YONKERS, NEW YORK.

GONVEYER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 21, 1911.

Application filed March 28, 1903, Serial No. 149,951. Renewed June 5, 1909. Serial No. 500,429.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES D. SEEBER- GER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Yonkers, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Conveyers, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention is concerned with certain novel parallel link connections adapted for use with conveyers having only two wheels or shoes on each of the steps or other sections, and in which it is desired to keep the treads or carrying surfaces horizontal throughout upon the inclined and horizontal runs. In my application No. 105,172, filed April 29, 1902, I have shown a somewhat similar system applied to connect the outer ends of a spiral moving stairway, but with the system there shown it was necessary to provide each line of links with rack bars, or other engaging mechanism, so that by having both lines of links engaged by the driving mechanism, it was possible to hold the steps or carrying surfaces parallel and horizontal. IVith my present invention, I am able to accomplish the same results without the necessity of applying driving mechanism to both lines of links.

To illustrate my invention, I annex hereto four sheets of drawings, in which the same reference characters are used to designate identical parts in all the figures, of which Figure 1 is a top plan View, diagrammatic in its nature, of a conveyer with an ascending and descending spiral track to which the invention may be applied; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a portion of the steps and link connection at the upper landing and the adjacent ascending and descending inclines connected therewith; Fig. 3 is a side elevation, on an enlarged scale, of two links of the lower line showing a modification; Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line A-A of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a broken plan View of steps at a point where the tracks change from the horizontal straight or tangent run to the horizontal curved run; Fig. 6 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of the adjacent ends of two of the upper links showing the universal joint connections employed; and

Fig. 7 is a vertical section on the line BB of Fig. 6.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the specific design to which I have shown my invention applied consists of a double spiral conveyer in the form of a moving stairway connecting two floors, and the series of steps are supported by a continuous track, consisting of two rails, and which at the upper and lower horizontal straight runs may cause the steps to pass just beneath the floors 11 and 14, for reasons which will hereafter be apparent. The steps at the termination of the lower straight run 10 emerge from beneath the floor 11 at 12 whence the track for a horizontal angle of about 90 makes a curved horizontal run, which changes to a curved ascending run 13, which preferably makes one complete spire reaching to the floor 14, through which the steps emerge at 15, and form a landing 16 on the curved horizontal portion, which at 17 changes to a horizontal connecting straight portion 18, and the steps preferably dip beneath the floor 14, whence they emerge at 19, and change to a curved horizontal landing portion 20, which at 21 descends through the floor 14 and changes to the descending curved inclined portion 22, which preferably makes a complete spire and at a point directly beneath 21 changes to a horizontal making a curved horizontal landing portion which preferably dips beneath the floor 11 and changes to the horizontal straight portion 10 completing the circuit. I have not deemed it necessary to illustrate this design in detail, as it is exactly the same as that employed in my application No. 105,172, above referred to. In use it will be apparent that in ascending the passengers step on at the lower entry landing and are carried up and leave the stairs at the exit landing 16. Those wishing to descend step on the landing 20 and are carried down and step off at the lower exit landing.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 5, each step will-be seen to consist of the tread surface 23 secured at its ends to the tops of the downwardly projecting brackets 24 and 25, which are preferably connected by the axle bars or rods 26 mounted in the intermediate bearings 27 and 28 and by the step bars 29 mounted in the bearings 30 and 31 formed in the lower ends of the brackets 24 and 25. As withthe design shown, the tread surfaces 23 are segmental in shapefand the inner ends of the steps must be brought toward each other on the curved portions of the tracks and separated on the straight portions, it becomes necessary to connect the steps by a series of shifting links 32, as seen in Figs. 4 and 5. As the action of these links is the same as in my aforesaid application No. 105,172, I will not describe the details thereof and method of operation, but reference is had to the aforesaid application for such details. The axle bars or shafts 26, as the case may be, have the wheels 33 and 34 j ournaled or secured on their ends, and in position to cotiperate with the inner and outer track rails 35 and 36 which are supported by the structural plates 37 and 38 in the customary manner.

The mechanism thus far described is the same as that shown in my aforesaid application.

The parallel linkage system connecting the outer ends of the steps, which is the subject matter of my present invention, will now be described, reference being had especially to Figs. 2, 6 and 7 The outer portions of the axle bars or rods 26 are connected by the links 39, which are journaled on the said axle bars between the wheels 33 and the bearings 27 The step bars 29 are likewise similarly connected by the lower links 40, which are journaled on their outer ends beneath the bearings for the links 39. The details of these u per links 39 are best shown in Figs. 6 and 7, where it will be seen that at their rear ends they are provided with the yokes 41, the ears 42 of which are journaled on the bearing studs 43 projecting upward and downward from the bearing sleeve or collar 44 journaled on the rod 26. For convenience of assembling the parts, one of the studs 43 may be screwed into place after the yoke 41 is positioned, as indicated in Fig. 7. On the other, or front end of the link 39 is formed a wider yoke 45, which terminates in the ears 46 which are journaled on the bearing studs 47 projecting upwardly and clownwardly from the double yoke-shaped bearing piece 48 having the bearing aperture 49 therein by which it is journaled on the rod 26 on either side of the sleeve 44 from which it is preferably separated by the bearing plates or washers 50. Similar bearing plates or washers 51 and 52 may be interposed between the sleeve 44 and the ears 42, and between the yoke piece 48 and the ears 46, respectively. By the employment of the universal joint construction herein shown, it will be apparent that the links may be rotated in a vertical plane to accommodate the movements from the horizontal to the inclined portions of the tracks, or they may be rotated in a horizontal plane to accommodate the change from the straight or tangent to the curved portions of the tracks.

' It will also be apparent that by this system of connections, the steps will automatically adjust themselves to any variations in the tracks. So far as hitherto described, the links 39 and the links 40 are practically identical. The yokes constituting the ends of the links 39 are connected by the rack bar 53 constituting the central or body portions of the links. These rack bars are engaged by the driving pinions 54 mounted on the shafts 55, which may be located at such points in the system as are considered best adapted to receive the driving power. The yokes constituting the ends of the links 40 are connected by a web or bar 57 that may be called plain, as distinguished from the rack bars on the steps of the upper line. It will be noted that the pitch line of the teeth of the rack bars is located substantially at, or a trifle below, the horizontal plane of the axle bars when the steps are on the horizontal. This enables me to provide for the necessary relative swinging of the links in passing from horizontal to inclined surfaces and vice versa without the necessity of having the rack bars overlap at their ends, as has been the practice hitherto, thus enabling me to simplify the construction thereof.

The link connections so far described provide no means for holding the rack bars par-' allel. For this purpose each link 40 is provided with an upwardly projecting bearing lug 58, which on the ascending incline is adapted to contact with the bearing lug 59 projecting downwardly from the under side of the yoke 41. WVhen the steps are on the descending incline, the bearing lug 58 cooperates with the bearing lug 60 projecting downward from the yoke 45 of the upper set of links. On the horizontal portions of the landings, as will be seen in Fig. 2, the hearing lug 58 is intermediate the lugs 59 and 60, not contacting with either, as the contact of the lugs on the inclined portions, where practically all the strain resulting from the weight of the passengers comes, 1S suflicient to hold the system in balance throughout; From a reference to Fig. 2 it will be apparent that any strain on any step tending to overturn it will be met and counteracted by the contact of the lugs on one or the other incline, as the case may be, and that consequently the entire system, including the landings, will be held in equilibrium with the tread surfaces horizontal. To provide for inequalities in the tracks and slight variations in "the angles thereof, I preferably make the bearing lug 58 yielding, as shown in Fig. 3, where it will be seen that the bearing surface of the lug is formed on the end of a rod 61 extending downward through the housing 62 formed in the lug 58 and extending through the aperture 63 formed in the web 57. A strong helically coiled expanding spring 64 is interposed between the shoulder formed between the bearing surface and the rod 61 and the bottom of the housing and is of a sufficient strength and stiffness so as to not yield under any ordinary pressure, such as the weight of the passengers, that may be put on the steps. In case that any much greater pressure, such as would result if the angle of the track should change, the spring can yield and prevent any breakage of the parts. The lower end of the rod 62 is preferably screw-threaded and provided with the adjusting nut 64 and lock nut 65 by which the position of the bearing lug may be adjusted, and by which the tension of the spring may also be controlled to a certain extent.

While I have shown my invention as applied to the outer ends only of a helical system of steps, it will be understood that it might be applied equally well to both ends of the ordinary straight line system.

IVhile I have shown and described my invention as embodied in the form which I at present consider best adapted to carry out its purposes, it will be understood that it is capable of modifications and that I do not desire to be limited in the interpretation of the following claims except as may be necessitated by the state .of the prior art.

WVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a device of the class described, the

combination with the steps or carriages and tracks therefor, of parallel lines of links connecting said steps, the links of one line adapted to lock alternately with adjacent links of the other line on the up and down runs. I

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with the steps or carriages and the tracks therefor, of parallel links connecting said steps, and projections from said links cooperating with the links connecting the same steps to maintain the steps in a predetermined relationship to each other.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with the steps or carriages and the tracks therefor, of parallel links connecting said steps, and projections from said links cooperating with the links connecting the same steps to hold them with their tread surfaces horizontal on the inclines.

4:. In a device of the class described, the combination with the steps or carriages and the tracks therefor, of parallel links connecting said steps, and bearing surfaces on said links cooperating with the bearing surfaces on the links connecting the same steps to hold them with their tread surfaces horizontal on the inclines.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with the steps or carriages, of tracks therefor including ascending and descending inclines, parallel links connecting said steps, two projections on each link of one line, and a single projection on the corresponding link of the other line, said single projection being adapted to cooperate alternately with the two projections on the ascending and descending inclines to hold the tread surfaces of the steps horizontal.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination with the steps or carriages, of tracks therefor including ascending and descending inclines, parallel links connecting said steps, two bearing surfaces on the un. der side of each of the upper lines of links, and a single bearing surface on the upper side of each of the lower line of links cooperating alternately with the two bearing surfaces of the adjacent links of the upper lines on the ascending and descending inclines to hold the steps with their tread surfaces horizontal thereon.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination with the steps or carriages and the tracks therefor, of two lines of links connecting said steps, driving mechanism cooperating with the links on one of said lines, and bearing surfaces on said links cooperating with the links connecting the same steps to hold them with their tread surfaces horizontal on the inclines.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination with the steps or carriages and the tracks therefor, of two lines of links con necting said steps, ack bars formed on one line of said links, a driving pinion engaging with said rack bars to advance the system, and bearing surfaces on said racks cooperating with the links connecting the same steps to hold them with their tread surfaces horizontal on the inclines.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination with the steps or carriages and the tracks therefor, of parallel links connecting said steps, bearing surfaces on said links cooperating with the links connecting the same steps to hold them with their tread surfaces horizontal on the inclines, a portion of said bearing surfaces being made yielding' under stress; substantially as described.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination with the steps or carriages, of tracks therefor including ascending and descending inclined portions, two lines of links connecting said steps, two bearing surfaces on the under side of each of the upper line of links, and a single yielding bearing surface on the upper side of each of the lower line of links adapted to cooperate alternately with the two bearing surfaces on the upper lines on the ascending and descending portions of the inclines and yielding in c: se of stress to prevent breakage.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination with the steps or carriages and the tracks therefor, of parallel links connecting said steps, and bearing surfaces on said links cooperating with the links connecting the same steps to hold them with their tread surfaces horizontal on the inclines, and means for adjusting the position of said bearing surfaces.

12. I11 a device of the class described, the combination with the steps or carriages, of tracks therefor including the ascending and descending inclines, two lines of links connecting said steps, projections from said links cooperating with the links connecting the same steps to hold them with their tread surfaces horizontal on the inclines, a portion of said projections having yielding bearing surfaces consisting of a-headed rod sliding in a cavity and having a helically coiled expanding spring interposed between the head of the rod and the bottom of the cavity.

18. In a device of the class described, the combination with the steps or carriages, of tracks therefor including the ascending and descending inclines, two lines of links connecting said steps, projections from said links cooperating with the links connecting the same steps to hold them with their tread surfaces horizontal on the inclines, a portion of said projections having yielding bearing surfaces consisting of a headed rod having its other end screw-threaded sliding in a cavity formed in the link and having a helically coiled expanding spring interposed between the head and the bottom of the cavity, and a set nut on the threaded end of the rod outside of the link.

14. In a device of the class described, the combination with the steps or carriages and the tracks therefor, of links connecting said steps or carriages, and concentric universal joints connecting said links.

15. In a device of the class described, the combination with the steps or carriages and the tracks therefor, of links connecting said steps or carriages, said links having a large vertical yoke at one end and a small vertical yoke at the other end, a horizontal hearing rod on the step, a collar on said bearing rod having vertical pintles with which the smaller yoke cooperates, a double yokeshaped collar surrounding the first mentioned collar and turning from the bearing rod and having vertical bearings with which the large yoke cooperates.

16. In a device of the class described, the combination with the steps and the tracks therefor, of two lines of links connecting said steps or carriages, each of said links having a large vertical yoke at one end and a small vertical yoke at the other end, a horizontal bearing rod projecting from the end of the step for each line of links, a small collar on each of said bearing rods having vertical pintles with which the small yokes cooperate, a double yoke-shaped collar surrounding the small collar and mounted on the bearing rods and provided with vertical bearing pins with which the large yoke cooperates, a pair of bearing studs projecting downward from the yokes of the upper line, and a cooperating bearing stud projecting upward from the center of the links of the other line.

17. In a device of theclass described, the combination with the steps and the tracks therefor, of two lines of links connecting said steps or carriages, each of said links having a large vertical yoke at one end and a small vertical yoke at the other end, a horizontal bearing rod projecting from the end of the step for each line of links, a small collar on each of said bearing rods having vertical pintles with which the small yokes cooperate, a double yoke-shaped collar surrounding the small collar and mounted on the bearing rods and provided with vertical bearing pins with which the large yoke cooperates, a pair of bearing studs projecting downward from the yokes of the upper line, and a cooperating bearing stud pro jecting upward from the center of the links of the other line, said bearing studs on the lower line having yielding contact surfaces for the purpose described.

18. In a device of the class described, the combination with the steps or carriages and the tracks therefor, of parallel links connecting said steps for maintaining them in a predetermined relationship to each other, rack teeth on one line of said links in the same vertical plane, and a driving pinion engaging said rack teeth.

19. In a device of the class described, the combination with the steps or carriages and the tracks therefor, of linkage connecting said steps, rack bars on said links having their pitch line substantially on the level of the axle bars of the steps, and a driving pinion meshing with said rack bar.

20. In a device of the class described, the combination with the steps or carriages and the tracks therefor comprising inclined and horizontal portions, of linkage connecting said steps, racks on said links having the pitch line of the teeth substantially on the level of the axle bars of said steps, and a driving pinion engaging with said rack bars, each of which is slightly shorter than the distance between the axle bars of two steps so that the space between the adjacent ends of the racks corresponds to the recess between two teeth.

21. In a device of the class described, the combination with the steps or carriages and the tracks therefor, of linkage connecting said steps, teeth on said links having their pitch line substantially on the level of the axle bars of the steps, and a driving, pinion meshing with said teeth.

22. In a device of the class described, a series ofsteps, tracks therefor providing a curved inclined and straight horizontal way, parallel linkage connecting said steps, and a drive engaging one of the lines of links,

23. In a device of the class described, the combination with the steps or carriages and the tracks therefon of parallel linkage connected to said steps and provided with means to maintain them in predetermined relation to each other upon ascending and descending inclines.

In testimony whereof aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES D. SEEBERGER. \Vitnesses:

W. BRADY,

E. V. MARSHALL. 

